The big controversy over how the Hanyu Pinyin "o" is pronounced has set off a storm on the Internet. The notice on the pronunciation of the "o" issued by the official WeChat of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission sparked debate and questions from people from all walks of life, which led to a series of ironic discussions. Some netizens even complained that they doubted that they had gone to a fake school before?
This controversy can be summarized into three types of views. The first group is parents who firmly believe that "o" should be pronounced "nest", because they have been taught this way since childhood; The second group is those who identify with the current education system that pronounces "o" as "ou"; The third category is that some teachers believe that "o" should be pronounced "oh". These three types of opinions are at odds, leading to a scuffle, with each questioning the other and trying to find evidence to support his or her point.
There are even relevant survey data showing that the misreading rate of "o" in the mainland is as high as 99.8%, if this data is true, does this imply that the pronunciation of our previous teaching is wrong? Could it be that we really went to fake school before?
In the course of the debate, the pronunciation of the "o" became more complicated as the melee escalated. It has been pointed out that "oh" is an extended pronunciation of "o". In addition to the traditional "o (ou)" pronunciation, there is now a pronunciation of "wo (wo)", that is, "o (ou)" can also be pronounced "wo (wo)". In response to this statement, netizens have stopped working, the "nest" we read since childhood, right? I've never heard of the Hanyu Pinyin "o" and the polyphonetic pronunciation! How can this be explained more and more confusingly?
Many people even wonder if this change in the pronunciation of Hanyu Pinyin is the result of a foreign cultural invasion, and they believe that there is a conspiracy! After all, "o" is pronounced "o" because it is pronounced in the English alphabet! They are worried that someone is deliberately confusing the English alphabet and Hanyu Pinyin!
In fact, in addition to the pronunciation of "o", the pronunciation and writing strokes of many kanji have also changed compared to before. This has led many people to think that their memories are confused, and even suspect that they have gone to "fake school"! The truth behind this situation is worth pondering.
Language is a living tool, and with the development of society and the increase of communication, language also needs to constantly adapt and develop. As a pinyin writing system, the standardization and unification of Hanyu Pinyin is the cornerstone of ensuring effective communication. The controversy over the "o" pronunciation actually reflects people's acceptance of language change and adherence to traditional habits.
We should face such controversies with an open mind. Language change is a natural process, both in terms of reform and the need to preserve traditions. We should respect the opinions of experts, but also listen to the voices of ordinary netizens. Only extensive discussion and in-depth thinking can find a balance between making language change meet the needs of the times while preserving the foundations of culture.
To sum up, in the pronunciation dispute of "o", we need to respect different points of view, listen to the explanations of experts, and also pay attention to the voices of ordinary people. Language change takes time and process, and we should remain rational, inclusive and open to reach consensus and seek the best solutions.
As the famous saying goes: "Language is the tool of the human mind." In this pronunciation controversy over the pronunciation of "o", we should not only focus on whether "o" should be pronounced "ou" or "nest", but also think about how to find a balance in language change, give full play to the function of language, and provide better tools for social development and communication.